4,600 young workers hold rally for jobs with dignity

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

4,600 young workers hold rally for jobs with dignity

About 4,600 young people took part in a national rally at Meiji Park in central Tokyo on October 5 in protest against increasing poverty among youth and harsh corporate treatment of young workers. The area resounded with participants’ calls for labor rules to be established to ensure that young workers can work with dignity.

It was the fifth annual rally jointly organized by the Youth Department of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), the Tokyo Young Contingent Workers’ Union, and the Democratic Youth League of Japan (DYLJ).

Speakers reported on temporary workers’ struggles against corporate refusals to extend fixed-term contracts and emphasized the urgent need to get the Workers Dispatch Law drastically revised.

Six union members working at Nichia Corporation reported that after exposing the company’s illegal use of temporary workers under the guise of independent contractors, they succeeded in getting Nichia to offer its 1,600 temporary workers to work on its payroll. However, Nichia broke the promise, and these temporary workers were not allowed by their staff agencies to extend their contract at the end of September.

Workers at the beauty salon chain operator Ash Co., Ltd. and fast food restaurant chain operator “Sukiya” spoke about their struggles against their employers’ refusal to compensate workers for overtime work.

A worker at the fashion brand company “BABY” called for public support on her struggle against the company’s unjust dismissal.

Speaking on behalf of the organization committee, DYLJ Chair Tanaka Yu said, “We are not powerless. Each young person’s voice and our solidarity will generate great momentum to change society and government policies.”

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo spoke in solidarity (see separate item).

After the rally, participants held handmade placards and marched in demonstration through the Harajuku and Shibuya districts that are very popular with young people.

- Akahata, October 6, 2008